Compare towns

Gorham vs Saco vs Windham vs Hampden

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gorham has the most expensive homes ($461k median).
Saco has the most renters (27.2% rent).
Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureGorhamSacoWindhamHampden
People
Population
18,300
20,819Highest
594Lowest
7,896
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
39.4±2.9Lowest
about the U.S. average
44.9±1.5Highest
15% above U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
41±2.9
5% above U.S.
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.9%±3.5
U.S.: 22%
16.7%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
25.8%±5.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hampden and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
18.5%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.1%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,312±$6kHighest
39% above U.S.
$92,241±$11kLowest
14% above U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$111,959±$13k
39% above U.S.
Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$460,900±$26kHighest
39% above U.S.
$413,100±$17k
24% above U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$301,300±$38kLowest
9% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,680±$355Highest
19% above U.S.
$1,249±$385Lowest
12% below U.S.
—
$1,286±$317
9% below U.S.
Gorham and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,825
55% above U.S.
$4,807
54% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$3,694Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
37.9%±8.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.3%±14Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
22.2%±15.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Saco and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1982Lowest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
24 min
10% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
23 minLowest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
19%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
21.3%±5.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampden and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #24 of 133 in ME #38 of 133 in ME — #6 of 133 in ME
School district Gorham Public Schools Saco Public Schools — RSU 22
High school in town Gorham High School None in town — Hampden Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
12.9Lowest
— —
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.